How to Protect My Sub Male Lead Dad

Finnev the capital of the Berg Empire.

In the old town, there was a magnificent and splendid temple that soared into the sky.

It was the main temple of the Prache religion.

Since the emperor distanced himself from the Prache clergy, the temple, which had been neglected by people, was now bustling again, thanks to Saint Asta.

The miraculous Saint who purified the cursed river.

The heroine who saved a dying child.

People flocked to the temple to see Asta.

“Saint! My mother is sick. Please pray for her.”

“Of course. I will pray as much as you want.”

“Saint, do you remember me? My son hasn’t woken up yet.”

“God said it would take some time. I will pray again.”

The kind Saint changed her expression as soon as she entered the Archbishop’s room.

“If they’re so desperate, they should sell their bodies to find the means. Do they think they can get what they want without paying a price?”

A sneer spread over her enchanting face that seemed to be filled with a strong scent of roses.

For Asta, who didn’t hesitate to use any means to become a “Saint,” they were pathetic.

A few years ago, the divine oracle of Prache descended upon the main temple of Berg.

『 Bow down humans to the one I send to take care of you as a Saint. The one who will revive the spring and bring back the dead to life is my representative. 』

The person who had been indicated was Yenna.

But Asta intercepted the divine oracle.

She pretended to purify the water by casting a magic spell to change its color.

She used a paralysis potion on a child and also secretly fed him the detoxification potion, so that she could establish herself as a Saint.

She even sold her soul to regress.

This should be the minimum effort I should do to get what I want.

“Yeah. I’m a fake Saint. But what’s with it? I just need to take over everything before Yenna appears.”

Even if Yenna performs a miracle travelling from another dimension, it won’t be much effective.

The County of Appel wouldn’t adopt her either.

The memories of her previous life flashed before Asta’s eyes like a mirage.

“Asta, from now on, your room will belong Yenna. Use the room on the third floor.”

“This child is our daughter, Yenna Appel. She’s our family’s pride.”

“Oh, who is this child?”

“She’s Asta, Yenna’s sister. You don’t have to pay attention to her.”

“Asta, I’m sorry, but please break off the engagement. I… I’ve fallen in love with Yenna.”

Asta closed her eyes tightly and opened them.

“This time, I won’t let Yenna take my place.”

Asta went straight to the Archbishop’s office.

The young archbishop, Liang Philippe, smiled at her. 

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.

“Was a new oracle bestowed?”

“Yes. It’s a secret oracle again.”

Liang held out a scroll. Asta unfolded it, and it was scrawled with a dizzying array of golden codes.

It was the language of the gods, a language that no one had ever been able to decipher.

‘But I can read it.’

It was a gift Asta had acquired after her regression, the ability to interpret the language of the gods.

It was the Goddess Prache who gave her another chance.

‘It was Prache who brought Yenna into this dimension, also the on who helped me regress and take revenge on her. What is she thinking?’

It was unsettling, but I couldn’t let that stop me.

I was given a chance, and I had to take advantage of it.

“What does it say?”

Liang asked curiously.

Asta sneered at him.

“It’s a secret oracle. An oracle that the Gods did not wish to be known to anyone but me, and the Archbishop dares to ask?”

“Well, not really.”

Liang lowered his tail.

Asta lowered her gaze and finished reading the oracle.

『 Tarov’s Illegal Auction House: Red Pendant 』

Her eyes flashed a moment of irritation.

Prache used to send Asta on ‘errands’ in exchange for regression.

‘I already sold my soul, what else do you want me to do?’

It was a task to get an antique that didn’t even seem to be worth anything.

‘It’s a nuisance. Well, I could always ask Hart to do it.’

Asta winced at the thought, out of habit.

‘But his attitude isn’t the same as before.’

Hart, who would do whatever Asta wanted, had changed lately.

He had begun to question, and judge things.

‘It must be because of that kid.’

Did he change realizing he had a child?

‘There’s no better hound like Hart, so I can’t afford to have him taken away from me.’

“If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

Asta turned away, after burning the oracle.

The Archbishop grabbed her urgently.

“His Excellency the Duke of Eisen is waiting for you in the secret chamber.”

“The Duke of Eisen?”

“Yes. He wants to talk to you at length. I said the Saint wouldn’t be able to meet him but he didn’t give up and has been waiting for long.”

The Archbishop spoke cautiously.

He knew that things were bad between them.

But Asta looked pleased hearing the news.

Looks like the sun was about to rise in the west.

“Really? The Duke must have been waiting a long time. Let’s go to the chamber right away.”

Asta ignored the bewildered Archbishop and pressed a corner of the bookshelf.

A secret door to the chamber appeared.

“I’ll go on my own.”

Normally I wouldn’t have met him, but today was different.

I had an idea to use the Duke of Eisen.

Inside the chamber, the Duke of Eisen sat with his arms folded.

He glared fiercely at Asta as she closed the door.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Eisen. How are you?”

Asta asked deftly.

Then the Duke of Eisen screamed,

“How am I doing? You’re asking that after you tried to kill me! Let’s settle this for once and all!”

“What do you mean I tried to kill you? I was just trying to sort out the heir issue, which has been a headache for the Duke.”

“You have the nerve to set yourself up to frame me, but that excuse won’t work. I’m going to make you pay for what you did.”

“I gave you a chance and you couldn’t utilize it. I know you’re upset but you need to calm down. We have too many enemies to squabble amongst ourselves, don’t you think?”

Asta smirked and sat down across from the Duke of Eisen.

“The Duke of Moltke, for example.”

The Duke of Eisen’s expression changed.

The Dukes of Moltke and Eisen.

They were the two families that divided the power of the Empire, the Imperial and the Temple’s, respectively.

‘But right now, the Duke of Moltke, husband of the Emperor’s favourite sister, Princess Sofi, has more power.’

Moreover, the Moltke family has a thriving trade business.

The power of money was pressurizing Duke Eisen.

“Why do you care about that? Are you trying to play power games? Even as a Saint you can’t make the Count Appel the centre of politics.”

The Duke of Eisen blatantly belittled Asta.

Asta’s eyes lit up.

‘I want to twist his neck right now.’

But she had to hold back.

Asta smiled even more brightly.

“I can help you, Your Excellency. If I set my mind to it, you know how I can frame my opponents.”

“What?”

“If Your Excellency the Duke Eisen helps, there won’t be any loopholes, unlike last time.”

The Duke of Eisen flinched.

Asta smiled seductively, but he could feel the sourness in her eyes.

‘How can a woman like her be a Saint…..!’

But he couldn’t deny that it was a tempting suggestion.

He had seen Asta’s schemes before, and knew the effects better than anyone.

Using her Saintly status, she could sway public opinion easily.

There was only one catch.

“…..How can I trust you, and that you won’t stab me in the back?”

“That won’t happen, because I’m going to need the Duke’s help.”

“Help with what?”

“Did you already plant spies next to His Highness Prince Hart, or have you already done so?”

Duke Eisen was aghast.

“That, how could you……”

“The informer you planted to keep an eye on me revealed that you were planning to keep a surveillance on the Prince .”

The Duke of Eisen’s face twisted.

“Then you must be responsible for her disappearance not long ago.”

“Don’t worry, she hasn’t gone missing, she’s well buried in the temple.”

Asta added with a smirk.

“Of course, you know that not just anyone has access to the temple’s shrine.”

Asta warned the Duke not to think of using the corpse as evidence.

At that moment, Duke Eisen thought, how foolish he had been to almost make an enemy of this crazy woman.

“So, I’m planning to use the spies you have on Prince Hart, will you help me?”

***

“Good morning, Young Lady. My name is Melanie Rosanne, and I’ll be looking after you from today. You can call me  Mrs. Melanie.”

The woman with neatly tied up brown hair said sweetly.

‘This is my nanny!’

Finally, I have a nanny!

I bend my waist to greet her.

“Hello, Mrs. Melanie! I hope you’re doing well. I’ll try to stay out of trouble and be a good girl.”

“Oh, my!”

Mrs. Melanie exclaimed.

Sherry and the maids whispered to her.

“Our young lady is a bit reserved.”

“She’s not like other children.”

“Mrs. Melanie is truly blessed.”

The praise was embarrassing to hear.

Mrs. Melanie bent down and made eye contact with me.

“I suppose so, but miss. A child is allowed to be a bit of a troublemaker, and you’re welcome to freely talk to me.”

I cocked my head.

“Really? Then I might not eat my carrots, and scribble on the tablecloth.”

“Oh, that’s not even trouble.”

“Even if I roll around on the carpet and run barefoot in the garden?”

“That’s fine too.”

Wow! Mrs. Melanie, you’re such a nice person, aren’t you?

I knew she was an experienced, reputable nanny!

Relieved, I smiled bashfully.

“It’s all a lie, I’m a good girl. I won’t do those things.”

“Yes, You’re a good girl.”

Mrs. Melanie smiled and patted my head.

Sherry, who was looking at me with pride, said.

“It’s time for the young lady to go for a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. She always goes for a walk by herself after lunch. She also goes to the master’s office. Today is your first day, so you can go together…..”

“Wait. She can’t do that.”

Lady Melanie stiffened.

“She’s going to go to his office while he’s at work, and you’ve been letting that happen all this time?”

“But my lord has given me permission to do so…….”

“That’s because you’re so clueless.”

Mrs. Melanie clicked her tongue.

“I think you two better get out of here.”